Swimming device



Dec.) 11, l 928.

T. RENSING SWIMMING DEVICE INVENTOR I Tfimdvr 2225172 Filed Nov. 1,4, 1927 A TTORNE Y Patented Dec. 11,1928.

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SWIMMING Davies.

Application filed November Ihe present invention relates to devices for use in swimming, and aimsto provide a novel and improved device Oftllls character which is adapted to be removably clasped to each of the ankles of a swimmer,;fr enablinghim to make use vofa greater area or expanse of water in propelling himself by the act on of: h s legs.

contrivance adapted to be attached to; each ankle, and comprising aseries :to V expans ble pocketelements adapt i toxopen during the rearward. or swimn nng stroke; ot the ankle, and likew se to collapse orfold in the reverse; movement thereof. w

Iii carrying my inventioninto practice, I

" make use of apair of bands or cuffs for the ankles, each band or cull carrying a series of pocket elements adapted to open and collapse inthe swimming movements.

Itis also sought to provide a device of this character in which provision is made for adjustably securing pocket elementsto the band or cuff, in order to accommodate thesame to s therequirements ofthe swimmer.

.Vvith these general ob ects in v ew, as well as minor ObJGCtS as Wlll appear in the course I of the detailed description, the invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating one form of construction which I have devised for embodying the proposed improvements, after which those" features and combinations deemedto be novel will be set forth and claimed. a V t In the drawing Figure 1 is a'plan View of a device constructed in accordance with the presentinvention, the same being in opened position; Figure 2'is a similar view, showing the op posite or inner face of the device;

Figures 3 and 4 are enlarged detail sec-f tional views, representing sections taken on the lines III-III and IVIV respectively,

ofFigure 1; a

Referring now to the drawing in detail, this illustrates the improved device as comprising a band or cull 10 of suitable flexible material,

such as canvas or the like, and provided at its opposite endswith straps 12 andsuitable 1a, 1327, Serial-Nol I the i may he removably clasped to one of the ankles I panel elements 15, preferably of suitable Accordingly, Ihave devised a swimming water-proof. material, and connected by a series vof ,foldable or collapsible gusset ,elf'e; ments16, the endzp'anels being provided with 1 snap fasteningelements 17 orequivalent devicesfor securing thepoeket ,elements; toi gether atone OlfthGi sides of the ankle, or v outer face of the cuff 10,and serve to limit, the outward or expanding action of the pocket elements. The panels 15 may be of molded material,

if desired, soas to conform closely'to the shape of the; foot and ankle, T and I preferably reinforce the panels by v meansof a resilient stifieningmaterial, such as wire 18 extending about--the 1margin. of each panel, as clearly illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. For further strengthening purposes, I also make use of a suitable cord 19v eXtending continuously along the lowermargin of the entire pocket structure, including'both the panels 15 and the intervening gussetelemen-ts 16,as illustrated iniFigu ret. 7

The-upper ends of the panel members 1 5" are provided with a rowof snap socket ele- Q ments 20 for attachingthe pocket structure.

to either one of a pair of knob elements21,

thelatterbeing provided in two spaced rows along the upper margin of the bandorculf '10, wherebythe pocket structure may be secured at slightly different elevations upon the ankle of the swimmer. At the upper ends of the panel members of each'device is also provided a band or strap 24 of elastic maa terial extending through loops formed by cut- Figure 5 1s a perspective View, on a smaller ting slits 26 in the upper ends of the panels 15, and ad ustabIy secured in placeby a buckle the folding or collapsingof' the pocket elements, as well as to maintain the devices in snug position about. the ankles so long asthe' swimmer is out of the water.

It will thusbe seen that I have simple and yet practical and ,efiicient device, for carrying out the desired objects of the 27. The'action of these bands'is to assistin V devised a invention. In use, the swimmer simply fastens the cufis to the ankles at the desired height, by means oafthe straps 12 and buckles 14, these comin at one of the sides oi each ankle. The poclzet stmetureis then adjusted, by means of the snap fastenings -21 to the desired elevation to suit the needs (if the swimmer, the lower the anels 15 the wider will the pocket elements adlowed to open, as limited by the flexible stays 23. The fasten'iiigs'QQ-and 91. also aflord merit according tothe-siee of the person makin use of the device;

-l3y the use of this improved swimming contrivance, the user is enabled toexert a greater propel ling force in the water, due tothe increased; areaor expense provided by the pocket structure of ewchyd evice as these are opened in therearward or swimming stroke of the ankles, the reversestroke obviously re sulting in the foldingor col lapsing of the pocket structures, in an ohvious manner. It will also be understood that the device will be ueefitrl in enabling a novice to acquire the art of swimmingsinceit wi'l'l aiford him ada slight" adjustditional support and propelling force in the leg movements, and materially increase his confidence due to the increased iency in the log movements.

While I have illustrated and described what I now regard as the preferredform of construction for embodying the invention, I desire to reserve the right to make such changes or modifications as ma fairly fall within the scope of the appende claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to SGCHI'B by Letters Patcut is: V

A swimming device comprising a band or cufi adapted to he removmbly clasped to the ankle, a plurality of foldebl'eamd expansihle pocket elements carried" by saidhand or end and adapted to open in the rearward swimming stroke of the ankle, and an elastic member encirel ing'the upper ends of saidelements and acting to maintain the same normally in folded sition.

In witness whereof I hereunto ailix my signature.

THEODOR RENSING. I 

